Check-hook



(No Model) W. R. MILLER.

CHECK HOOK.

No. 364,276. Patented-June '7, 1887.-

' vwamto z M 637W $513 A attozmmgs N. PETERS, Phm-uuw ner. Washihg'flll. no.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. MILLER, OF POLO, ILLINOIS.

CHECK-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,276, dated June '7, 1887.

Application filed July 14, 1886. Serial NmQOZOT l. (No model.)

V rets; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in harness-terrets, and is fully described and explained in the following specification, and shown in the aceom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the terret. Fig. 2 is a second elevation of the terret, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in 'Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a section on the line 00 1, Fig.

2; Fig. 4, a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, illustrating a slight modification in construction. Figs. 5a'nd 6 are enlarged views of the non-hinged end of the short segment or tongue and of the corresponding end of the longer seg ment, which forms the body of the ring.

The terret consists ofa circular ring, 1 2, and a standard, 11, by which it may be attached to the saddle in the usual manner. The ring is disconti n nous,the short segment2 being hinged or pivoted at 8 to the body 1 in such manner that the segment may be pushed inward, as indicated at 2', Fig. 3. The outward movement of the tongue is prevented by its engagement with the end ofthe ring. The manner in which such engagement prevents outward movement is evident from Figs. 5 and 6, in which 9 is a conelike tenon attached to or formed integrally with the tongue 2, and adapted tofitinto acorresponding mortise or depression,14,in the end of the ring 1. The neck 13 of this tenon is nar rower than the body 9,as is also the corresponding portion of the depression 15 in the ring 1, and,consequently,when the segment is in position to engage the ring, the ends of the latter are prevented from separating. The thickness of the tenon being less than that of the ring, the exterior face of the ring shows only a straight line of division orjoint.

Theinterior face of the ring is provided with a recess, 6, Fig. 3, in which lies a spring, 3, conforming approximately to the curve of the terret, and lies within its general surface. This spring is attached to the ring at one end,1S,and its other end rests against the body of the tongue 2 in a groove, 17 ,which extends beyond the end of the spring. The grooveis also throughout the greater part of its length of a depth exceeding the thickness of the spring, to allow the latter to move outward when flexed.

In operation, the rein to be introduced into the terret is placed against the tongue and pressed inward and upward, when, by the yielding of-tho spring 3, the tongue is permitted to rotate about its pivot 8 to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the rein passes within the terret. During this opera tion the radius of curvature of the spring is lessened and its middle portion is thrown outward in its groove,while its free end slides forward in the vacant portion 17 of the groove.

When the rein passes the end of the tongue, the

reaction of the spring 3 instantly throws the tongue back to its normal position, audits entrance within the depression in the ring is facilitated and slight displacement corrected by the cone-like form of the tenon. Lugs 16, placed, respectively, upon the end of the ring and upon the opposite end of the tongue, serve as guides in inserting the rein and preventils slipping from itsproper position. Like lugs upon the opposite side of the ring preserve its symmetry, and are, with the fgrmer, the only variations from the usual outline of a terret.

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 of a terret having the spring normally farther below the internal surface of the terret,to give space for bars 10 10, spanning the groove in which the spring lies. These bars are flush with the interior ofthe ring,and retain the spring within its groove.

The form of outline chosen for illustrationan apparently simple ring, with both segments arcs of the same circle--is preferred; but this form may be varied,while the construction remains substantially the same, and this may be desirable, especially in the terret which serves as a checkbook. \Vhat I claim is 1. The C0lI1blllLi3l011,Wltll the broken ring 1, provided with means for attaching it to harness, of the tongue 2, hinged to one of the terminals of the broken ring, and when in its normal position filling the gap in the ring, but free to swing inward about its hinge, the spring ICO with a conical seat, 14, and slot 15, to receive the tcnon and neck, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony WhereofI havesigned this speci- I5 fication in the presence of two subscribing witnesscs.

\VILLIAM R. MILLER.

Witnesses:

C. W. GRAHAM, J. H. STEARNS. 

